THINGS THAT MAKE ME SAY HMMM..

Thursday afternoon I was out at the pool catching some rays.  But this wasn't fun time, I was at work.  You see, in the decorative concrete business, it isn't all about countertops (That is where I do my best work tho) it is also about stamped patios and pool decks.  In this case we were called by someone who had a different company do their pool deck, but they didn't do a very good job so we were called to come in and fix the problem.  This happens several times a year, with pool decks, drive ways and patios.  We stripped the sealer that had been put down wrong and restained and resealed.  Here is a couple of pics of the finished pool deck.

That pool cover was like that when we got there...wasn't me

I wanna party on this patio

If you stood by the fire pit and looked left, this was the sweet view behind their house.

Cool view

While we were putting the finishing touches on the pool deck I got a call from Robyn.  She said "We've got a problem!"  My heart sank as I immediatly thought of Canyon's little brush with the Waukee police and prayed that there wasn't more bad news.  I asked what was the matter and she said she was dumping her bucket of cleaning water down a toilet and saw her rag pour out.  The toilet was instantly plugged.  Oh great, the pool I was working on was north of Ankeny.  I asked which bathroom, hopeful it wasn't on the second floor.  She said it was Marcia's house.  So I thought, if this wasn't at my house how was it that 'we' had a problem?  Robyn told me she shut off the water and cleaned up the mess and asked if I could help remedy the situation.  I made plans to go over right after work.  Now I understood how 'we' had a problem.  

Now, a plumber I ain't but I thought I would give it the old Griswald,..I mean Petersen try.  Here is a quick video for your enjoyment..

I can now add plumber to my list of expertise.  And since I am now a plumber...

I'm going to go on letting you believe that is my plumber crack

Friday at work we just finished up a project that is a bench and flower box tops.  The client wanted something that looked natural and had the feel of water running through it.  I think this came out pretty nice.  We will install it Monday.

Bench is over 10 feet long

Mirror and glass inlays as well as Brazilian agates

The rock face edge adds to the natural feel

On Friday we also began running fibers for a large fiber optic outdoor bar.  It consists of 8 pieces with 5 of them being just under 10 feet long.  This may be hard to understand but some of the fiber runs were longer that 20 feet.  This bar will have almost 2 miles of fiber when complete.  Here is a picture of Chris doing a 23 foot run..

so far away we had to comunicate by phone

We have to run each fiber through an exit point after threading it through the piece itself, then bundle them in 10s so we don't get a big spider web.  Here is a video to help you understand.

Just as the day was coming to a close, my sister Debbie called to see if she could use a ladder.  I hadn't been feeling so great for the last couple days so I said I would run it over but then I was heading home to get some rest.  On the way to her house I spotted this bird.  I wasn't sure what I was seeing so I turned around and went back for a photo.  It's not a pigeon or a dove.  I don't know, you tell me..

albino robin?

Saturday, I slept in for a while but I had a project to do.  The church had asked me to build a skateboard ramp for vacation bible school.  Don't get too excited, they wanted a smaller one for someone to do a stunt on as entertainment.  Well I had been putting it off and now it was crunch time.   I stopped into Menards for material and on my way out..well.. let me give you a little back story.

Several weeks ago, maybe even a month ago, I was leaving Menards when I saw a man holding a sign looking for food, work, money , whatever so if you know me you know that I stopped and gave him some money (and a daily devotional that I had in my truck).  As I pulled away a voice in my head told me I should go talk to him.  Find out his story.  Share God's word with him.  I kept driving but the feeling was overwhelming.  I don't know why I didn't go back, I mean I had no pressing issues to deal with (like a clogged toilet) but I didn't go back.  It bugged me for hours so I stopped by on the way home but he was gone.  I felt like I had let God down or something.  It really tore me up.  Well, God is a God of second chances, because there on that same corner was the same man.  I recognized his sign.  It said retired military, please help.

This time I went back.  I parked and walked over to him and asked if we could talk.  I think he enjoyed the company.   His name is Jerry Norton, he retired after 32 years with the army.  He was awaiting retirement payments coming in a few weeks.  I asked if he knew God loved him and he responded almost immediatly.  He said Yes, I go to church every Sunday but more than that I talk to Jesus daily, I couldn't get by with out Him.   That rocks!  He had been working construction, driving big truck that required a cdl licsense, but he suffered a peptic ulcer and they revoked it.  They didn't want him having an attack and getting in an accident.  Down on his luck, he and his wife were living in his Honda.  Through his church she had found a place to stay.  I told him about my blog and asked if I could tell his story and have a picture.  He was genuinly happy to oblidge.

If you have the means, help the hungry

He has been working small jobs here and there, he just needs that one break.  I thanked him for his service with the army and asked if he had a phone.  He had one of those prepay phones, so I exchanged numbers with him and asked if I could give his number to one of the pastors at Point of Grace and see if they could offer any help.  He said sure.  I told him to try to put in an application at Speck, they are always looking for good men.  I gave him a little money, I wished him the best and headed out to finish my project.

May God bless Jerry and his wife.  And thank you Lord for the second chance.

I got to the shop, feeling great, but sick as a dog and put together the ramp in a couple of hours.  They can paint it up and make it look real cool for the kids at VBS.

Tony Hawk would be impressed

Then Robyn called and reminded me that we had a graduation party to go to.  I hurried home and got cleaned up.  We picked up Canyon and headed to the party.  Colton, our nephew, was graduating a year early.  I asked him how he did it and he told me he was a genius.  No doubt there.  There are some serious smarts in that family.  His sister (our niece) Meredith graduated early also.  She helped arrange the party.  We talked to family for a bit, told Colton how proud we were and had to go home because I was really under the weather.

Pretty smart, and smart n pretty

Speaking of under the weather, we got home and some storms started rolling in.  I snapped these quick pics and went inside to ride it out.

bubblin trouble

a scene from a movie?

There were sever thunder storms and several tornados about the state, buy we were spared.  Now if I could just shake this cold.  Robyn and I go down to Iowa City Wednesday to get qualified for Iowa Care Insurance.  If we lived in Polk county we could just go to Broadlands Hospital, anywhere else and it's Iowa City.  Hope I'm feeling better by then.  Until next time,  stay thirsty my friend.

Peace

Dan

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